sadly overrated
- storyline is not as bad as some members wrote.
- music is well chosen
- acting is good
- but, the movie does not suck you in, the feeling of "ok now it's going to happen" is missing
- characters are a little confusing or not worked out well. i liked the idea of an anti hero but maybe i understand something different of it
7/10
I think it's massively under rated, the first time I saw it I made the mistake of tuning off after the teeth torture scene, because firstly I was tired and secondly it put me off watching the rest of the film.
But about 10 years later I've just rewatched it, and it reallyis a great foreign film. Lots of the plot details I couldn't quite understand, why were they drugged? Why did he cut his tongue out at the end?
But I can appreciate the film a lot more now.
he was punishing himself for her daughter, he was saying to the bad guy (one of the best bad guys of all times) my tongue cause all this? i will cut it for you so it won't cause more trouble but don't harm my daughter, i'll be a dog. most of that scene was ab-lib. I think the movie is incredibly clever, very well directed, acted, dialog is great i really can't find anything wrong with it
shareEvery single film has this thread.
"Worst Movie Ever made"
"Overrated!"
"Stupid plot Stupid story Stupid screeplay"
On and on and on.
IMDb, never change LOL
In my opinion, one thing this film excels in is the cinematography which is consistently gorgeous. It creates this surreal vision of Korea as a backdrop for this tragedy. The similarly composed shots of Oh Dae-Su and Lee Woo-Jin (in so many different scenes) show how similar they really are. (See the links below for one example.) The first time I saw it I'd have given it an 8/10, the second time definitely a 10/10. Part of it is that you're able to get past the confusion of figuring out what's going on and immerse yourself in this beautiful yet poetically tragic film on repeat viewings, while noticing stuff like foreshadowing. One of the real tragedies is that Lee Woo-Jin has wasted the last 15 years of his life on this guy and it doesn't do either of them any good. Focusing on his character is also really interesting. I also love the soundtrack and thought Choi Min-Sik did a phenomenal job as the main character. Even for people who don't love foreign films almost everyone can appreciate it for its intensity and stylization.
Anyway, it's my second favorite film of all time, so maybe give it another chance?
Images:
http://film-grab.com/2014/02/28/oldboy/#jp-carousel-33834
http://film-grab.com/2014/02/28/oldboy/#jp-carousel-34276
I'm going to find it and I'm going to destroy it. I don't know how yet. Possibly with dynamite.
I love the Trilogy Vengeance, Old Boy was the best one imo. Then Lady Vengance.
The thing about Korean movies is that they rarely go for the Hollywood happy ending, so most of the time the movie ends and it leaves you thinking about what the hell just happened.
Once you are prepare for that, you'll be able to see amazing movies.
Hollywood tends to repeat the same formula, so people don't get too shocked.
Korea try the unexpected, sometime they miss, sometime they don't. At least they're not scared to try.
I end the post with 2 suggestions : I Saw the Devil, A Bittersweet Life
All the best-reviewed films are. This film worked for me though, so I'm down with its high ratings.
Hey there, Johnny Boy, I hope you fry!
It's a typical cult favorite- lots of style and superficial cleverness and a fanatically-devoted fanbase which will leap at your throat if you blaspheme against it.
Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries.
Plenty of good things about this movie it was a great story to me 10/10
shareAnd hallway scene stolen from Kentucky Fried Movie.
shareNo.
10/10